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COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Online classes available for adults!
Now is a great time to focus on your health, review your finances or try something new, just for fun!
Our most popular classes - led by our local instructors - have been converted to virtual webinars.
Choose from a wide range of topics, including:
• Art and design
• Business
• Computer applications
and computer science
• Construction and trades
• Health and fitness
• Hospitality
• Information technology
• Language
• Legal
• Math and science
• Writing
Online courses are affordable, fun, convenient, and highly interactive.
Visit www.discovercommunityed.com to learn more and register online. n
Adult basic education students go the distance
to learn, teach and care for others
Students in Adult Basic Education classes
are logging in to connect and learn, wanting
to improve basic reading, writing, math and
computer skills, earn a high school diploma
or a GED, and learn or improve English
language skills.
Amber Delliger, Metro North ABE teacher,
recently recognized as one of the 36
teachers in the state to be nominated for
“Minnesota Teacher of the Year,” has been
hopeful that she and her fellow teachers can
help adult students with not just their own
educational journey - but their families, too,
as they work to support their own children
with distance learning at the same time.
“In my role working with adults, we are
doing our best to help them move forward
in their academic and career goals while
[balancing] so much that is on their plate:
caregiving, working - or being suddenly out
of work - helping their children continue
learning; all while trying to keep going to
school,” Delliger acknowledged. “This is
uncharted territory and I am proud of [my
students].”
Metro North ABE students don’t always
need basic reading, writing or math skills,
but look to the program for guidance in
developing workplace skills, or the skills
to get a better-paying job. In addition to
providing academic tools and continuing
to teach students online, teachers are
working hard to connect adult students
to community resources that are available
for food, housing, internet and other
necessities.
In a season of uncertainty, Delliger
chooses to focus on and demonstrate
kindness. “We are doing the best we can as
teachers to show humanity in this situation.
My own kids are interrupting my video
lectures, I’m sharing the experience of
navigating my kiddo’s lessons while trying
to make materials for my own students,”
Delliger relates. “I’m sharing how it’s key
to keep our priorities clear - the health
and the wellness of [themselves and] their
family should come before math class,” she
reiterates.
To learn more about adult basic education
classes, or to enroll at Metro North ABE, visit
www.metronorthabe.org. n
Community Ed staff can inspire
creativity and exploration at home
Each Anoka-Hennepin elementary
and middle school has a
Community Schools coordinator
or programmer, who coordinates
a wide variety of courses, clubs,
camps and clinics to enhance
your child’s academic and social
experiences. Our team is sharing
ideas, tips and demonstrations
to help inspire creativity and
exploration at home.
Visit www.ahschools.us/CommunityEdDemos to watch video
demonstrations from Community Education staff. A new
activity and inspiration is added each week. n
Connections are a big
deal for little learners
Even during distance learning,
each moment that teachers and
children interact with one another is
an opportunity to develop positive
relationships, key to building
children’s social and emotional skills.
Early Childhood Family Education
(ECFE) and Preschool teachers
continue to interact with families and
children through web-based video
sessions and activities. These distance learning connections are
important to support families and engage children in learning
activities while easing some of the stress that comes from
being away from friends.
Follow Anoka-Hennepin ECFE and Preschool on Facebook
for online parent discussions and fun circle time videos with
licensed parent educators and teachers. n
Youth service students spring into action,
spread joy and kindness through service
If there was ever a perfect time to serve others
through kindness, care and joy - this is it.
High school students across the district may
not be able to attend service club meetings afterschool
- but they have found creative ways to
collaborate and share their passion for making a
difference while staying at home.
Community Education coordinates meaningful
leadership and service opportunities at all
high schools. Tammy Peterson, youth service
coordinator at Andover High School (AndHS),
knew that the current situation would not deter
students from service. “They are incredibly giving,
kind, and thoughtful, I knew they would want to
spread a little kindness during this crisis,” Peterson
said. “Without hesitation and thoughtful insight,
they’ve provided their own ideas and embraced
suggestions on how to make a positive difference
in their community.”
AndHS students have kept busy writing letters
of inspiration to Lions Club members and set up a
neighborhood food drives for the local food shelf.
“I personally was looking forward to volunteering
over spring break, but couldn’t due to COVID-19. I
found pleasure in writing letters to spread positivity
and hope,” Lyhnsay Yang, sophomore, said.
Students in the Leo Club at CPHS were able
to collaborate online, and sent cards to essential
workers at local hospitals, clinics, grocery stores;
and left cards and bottles of hand sanitizer for
postal workers in their own mailboxes and picking
up trash in their neighborhoods.
At Champlin Park High School (CPHS), Cambria Schmidt,
junior, enlisted the help of her grandfather and siblings
Brynn, seventh-grade student at Jackson Middle School; and
Josee, a second-grade student at Champlin Brooklyn Park
Academy, to make greeting cards to thank essential workers.
“I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of
the students when #StayHomeMN was first
announced,” Jane Hansen, youth service
coordinator at CPHS, said. “They were all eager
to engage their classmates in helping out in their
community and demonstrated just how much they
want to contribute to make things better.” n